(L-R) Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the long Walk at Windsor Castle on 10 September 2022, before meeting well-wishers. Photo: AFP
William and Catherine, the new Prince and Princess of Wales, along with Prince Harry and Meghan, were seen viewing tributes outside the grounds of Windsor Castle on Saturday.
Harry and Meghan had been in Britain on a brief visit when the Queen died.
Like other senior members of the royal family, Harry rushed to be by the Queen's side as she deteriorated at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, and a spokesperson for the heir to the throne said an invitation for the Windsor walk had been extended by William.
A royal source described it as an important show of unity at an incredibly difficult time for the family. They emerged from the same car, all wearing black.
The two couples did not interact much during the 40-minute walkabout near one of the queen's favourite English homes, as they stopped to read messages left among the flowers, and shake hands and chat with the thousands of people lining the Long Walk.
(L-R) Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales look at floral tributes laid by members of the public on the Long walk at Windsor Castle on 10 September 2022. Photo: AFP
At one point Meghan was hugged by a woman in the crowd while others stretched to shake hands and talk to the four royals in the early evening. William spent some time bending down chatting to children, while Kate and Harry accepted flowers and messages of encouragement from those in the crowd.
Royal observers had been looking for signs of a detente amid the pomp and ceremony of a period of national mourning and Queen Elizabeth's state funeral.
On Friday, Charles used his first address to the nation as King to express his "love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas".
He also bestowed on William and daughter-in-law Kate the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales, which he and his late wife Diana previously held.
William was heard telling one well-wisher that the days following the Queen's death had been "so surreal".
"We all thought she was invincible," he said.
Under royal rules, the monarch's grandchildren are automatically eligible to become princes or princesses of the realm, so now that Harry's father Charles is King, his children, Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1, can receive those titles. Lilibet was named after the Queen's childhood nickname.
It is not clear whether they will take the titles.
"At the moment we're focused on the next 10 days. As and when we get information, we will update the [royal] website," a spokesperson for King Charles told reporters.
- BBC / Reuters
